Bryce Christianson, DC

08/06/2025

Snapping Hip: A Common and Often Harmless Condition

If you’ve ever felt or heard a snapping sensation in your hip while walking, rising from a chair, or swinging your leg, you may have experienced what’s known as Snapping Hip Syndrome (SHS). While the noise or feeling can be surprising—and at times annoying—it’s usually a benign and common musculoskeletal phenomenon that affects many people, especially adolescents, dancers, athletes, and those who engage in repetitive leg movements.

What Is Snapping Hip Syndrome?
Snapping hip occurs when a muscle, tendon, or ligament moves over a bony prominence in the hip. It is typically classified into three types:
External snapping hip: The most common type, where the iliotibial (IT) band or gluteus maximus tendon snaps over the greater trochanter (the outer part of the hip bone).

Internal snapping hip: Caused by the iliopsoas tendon moving over bony structures like the femoral head or the iliopectineal eminence.

Intra-articular snapping hip: Far less common, this involves issues inside the hip joint itself, such as loose cartilage or labral tears.

In most cases, especially with external or internal SHS, the snapping does not cause pain. Some individuals simply feel or hear the snap, while others may have mild discomfort or a sense of instability.

Is It Dangerous?
Here’s the good news: snapping hip is rarely a sign of a serious problem. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), SHS is typically a benign condition that may not require treatment unless it is painful or functionally limiting (AAOS, 2023). Many people live with occasional snapping without any negative effects on mobility or long-term joint health.
If discomfort arises, it is usually due to irritation of the soft tissues from repetitive movement, and this can be managed with simple conservative treatments.

Conservative Treatments
Most cases of snapping hip improve with basic self-care. These may include:

Stretching and strengthening exercises, especially for the hip flexors, glutes, and core.

Activity modification to reduce repetitive stress.

Acoustic Wave Therapy to reduce inflammation and promote healthy collagen production

Chiropractic, when symptoms persist or interfere with activity.

In very rare cases where pain is severe and unresponsive to conservative care, further imaging or intervention may be considered. However, this is the exception, not the rule.

When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should consider seeking professional evaluation if:
The snapping is accompanied by significant pain.

You notice swelling, weakness, or loss of motion.

Symptoms worsen over time or interfere with daily life.

A chiropractor, physical therapist, or orthopedic specialist can help determine if the cause is truly benign or if further assessment is needed.

Final Thoughts
While the sensation of a snapping hip can be strange or even irritating, it’s usually nothing to worry about. For the vast majority of people, it’s a harmless quirk of anatomy that improves with time, movement awareness, and some basic stretching.
So the next time your hip makes a little noise, take a breath—it’s more likely a reminder of how dynamic your body is, not a sign of something wrong.

Bryce Christianson, DC

08/05/2025

Here is a good read about the "false innocence" of a widely used product in Colorado:

Recent studies challenge the ‘false innocence’ of cannabis, linking chronic use to increased lung cancer risk.

07/28/2025

Health Alert: Teens Who V**e Ni****ne Face Higher Risk of Depression. A recent study tracking 2,500 teenagers found that those who regularly used ni****ne vapes were 3 times more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety within a year. Researchers urge caution, noting that ni****ne may affect brain regions involved in mood and stress regulation. JAMA Network Open, March 2023

07/22/2025

My hope is this inspires you to care for your spine and soft-tissues before you damage them further. Do your stretches and exercises between your appointments like you brush and floss your teeth.

07/22/2025

Is this a toolbox, step stool or super affordable & portable stair climber? Or all of the above.

When you're having lower back and pain that needs strengthening in your large and important muscles in that region, this is one of my favorite things to incorporate into a home rehab program.

This step stool toolbox may look like it belongs in your garage, but it’s a powerhouse for rehabbing low backs. Why? Because when used properly, it helps activate and strengthen your glutes and spinal stabilizers—the muscles that keep your spine from tipping over like a wobbly Jenga tower every time you bend or twist.

When using it for strengthening your lower back, try doing step ups very slowly up, and slowly down while watching yourself in a mirror to prevent shoulder and hip "lurching" (tipping to the side). Brace your core muscles and feel the toning that happens when you try to go as slow as possible.

https://amzn.to/46p5jSE

Once you're better, you can use this to increase your heart rate and go faster or add weights for additional strengthening.

07/16/2025

To piggy back off my last post regarding the email I received earlier today, there is another piece of advice I'd like to share.

With your chiropractor, massage therapist, PT, acupuncturist, CPA, lawyer, mechanic, electrician, car detailer, stylist, barber or any service provider you value, give them a 5 Star review on Google & refer your family and friends.

In return, you will get much better care or service after that.

Also, if one of them lets them down, provide your constructive feedback privately versus bashing them via online listings or through the proverbial grapevine.

All service providers, regardless of their trade, enjoy helping others. When you compliment them, they provide you better care. When you tell them how they can improve, they'll likely hear it & improve their business and figure out a way to make things 'right'. If they're not mature enough to accept input, you'll know you need to find better options going forward.

07/16/2025

The best "income" chiropractors earn are in the forms of words, not money. If you've found an awesome chiropractor, tell them who much their work is appreciated.

This came in my inbox this morning, & it's likely the best email I have ever received.

"Dr. Bryce,



I want to thank you so much for our last session. I came home and embraced your talk on subjective and objective. Since our last appointment I wanted you to know I have listened to what you shared with me and taken it to heart. As a result, I am no longer focused on any pain but on my healing and how much better I feel. Saturday, Sunday, Monday and today I have felt better and better. I had a strong walk today of over 3 miles and felt great! I thank you for your wisdom and for sharing with me along with your expertise as a Chiropractor. From God to your mouth to my heart I am healing. Thank you. I’m looking forward to all your advice and guidance.



PTL!"

07/10/2025

07/10/2025

Recently it was brought to my attention that people in Grand Junction have speculated that I died suddenly & that's why I am no longer practicing in Grand Junction. That's not the case.

It was clear to me that since the pandemic, I needed a smaller and easier to maintain location to practice at. When the building on 12th Street sold much quicker than expected, my wife I listed all the other stressors which took us away from being great parents. For me, they included: billing insurances, staff/HR, and owner responsibilities.

After that, we prayed and pursued for improvements in each of those. God opened many doors I never expected and an opportunity was offered in Missouri (that has been beyond great) & much closer to family for both my wife & I.

I miss the patients I served in Colorado more than expected. Because I still care for them, my plan is to blog and create video content to help them improve and maintain their wellness plus be available to answer spinal health questions. Many health care providers capitalize on fear tactics, and I think I can provide you sound reasoning when making decisions.

That's all for now. I hope each of you are well. And please reach out if you have questions.

Send a message to learn more

06/17/2025

Tomorrow’s health and longevity starts today

01/07/2025

I found a Dolorean for sale & I bought it. I'm only going to drive it from time to time.